Rotating disk game device



Aug. 20, 1957 A. a. NACKERS H I ROTATING DISK GAME DEVCE Filed June 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i ALBERT NAGkERS ms mm" Aug. 20, 1957 n I A. e. NACKERS 2,803,464

' ROTATING DISK GAME DEVICE Filed June 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 H6 1 Awm w kms HIS 4T1 ORNE Y United States Patent ROTATING DISK GAME DEVICE Albert G. Nackers, Rochester, N. Y.

Application June 28, 1955, Serial No. 518,521

3 Claims. (Cl. 273-142) This invention relates to a game device and has for its object to afiord a game of chance that can be played by two or more persons, and which can readily be carried in ones pocket and played anywhere.

More particularly, the invention is intended to afford a game of chance, the outcome of which depends on spinning a dial, that is operated by the players successively.

A further purpose is to provide a structure in which a dial is spun, and the score of each player determined by the point at which the dial stops, the dial being provided with a series of number indications that can be observed when the dial stops, and which combine with other number indications on a stationary part of the game to give a number total.

Another object of the invention is to afford a game device of this general character which can be played either by totaling combinations of numbers, or by selecting different colors, the dial being provided with both numeral and color indicia, and with a shutter that can be manipulated by the player before starting to play so that either the numbers or colors on the dial will be utilized in playing the game.

An additional purpose of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient construction for a pocket game device having a novel form of spinning dial, such that when actuated by a player, it will spin evenly for an indefinite period of time and come to a stop when its speed of rotation is sufliciently reduced so that a controlling spring retards its motion completely.

Still a further object is to afford a construction provided with a play indicator arranged in proximity to the dial in such a manner that a player can position a thumb over part of the play indicator and in one motion operate the play indicator and also the dial, and the player thus always has before him a record of the number of spins he has completed.

An additional purpose of the invention is to provide a game device that is of simple and economical construction to be carried in a pocket, and which enables each player to have before him at all times during a play, a record of his total score.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts that will appear clearly from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the novel features being pointed out in the claims following the specification.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrating the shutter in position for closing the openings in the cover through which the color indicia on the dial appear, and opening the aperture through which the numeral indicia appear;

Fig. 2 is a similar view with the shutter in its alternate position, uncovering the openings through which the color indicia on the dial appear and closing the aperture through which the numeral indicia on the dialappear;

2,803,464 Patented Aug. 20, 1957 Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated;

Fig. 5 is a plan view with the cover and shutter removed;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 5, looking in the direction indicated;

Fig. 7 is a plan view showing in dotted lines the position of a players thumb as he starts to operate the spin recorder and dial or spinner;

Fig. 8 is a similar view showing the position of the parts upon the completion of the spinner operation, and with the shutter positioned to expose the numbers on the dial and to conceal the color indicia;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view on line 99 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated;

Fig. 10 is a view in end elevation looking downwardly of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a view in end elevation looking in the opposite direction to Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a detail plan view of the dial, and

Fig. 13 is a detail plan view of the shutter removed from the cover.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like reference numerals throughout the several views refer to the same parts, the structure includes a housing comprising a base 1, side walls 2, and cover 3, that may be attached to the side walls in any convenient way. Mounted on the base 1 is a support 4 preferably of metal, the support having a central opening and secured to the base by a bolt 5 extending through an opening in the base 1 and through the opening in the support, the bolt 5 being held in place by a nut 6 engaging the threaded end of the bolt and the upper end of a ball race 7 seated on the neck portion 8 of support 4, and acting to hold these parts fixedly in position within the housing.

Ball bearings 9 are arranged between the ball race 7 and an outer ball race 11, to which is fixedly attached the dial 12, which may be of metal, rubber, plastic, or other suitable material and includes a body surrounding outer race 11, and a central flange 13 overlying the top of the ball race 11. This structure enables the dial 12 when operated to rotate speedily on the central support 4, its movement being retarded and finally stopped by a light wire spring element including an end portion 14 that is rigidly attached to the support 4 and extends thence outwardly, being bent upon itself to afford a portion 15 extending inwardly and upwardly and terminating in a loop portion or bent end 16 located in a plane slightly above the portion 14.

17 are headed pins attached to the under side of the dial 112 and arranged circularly around the outer ball race 11. With this arrangement, when the dial is spun in the manner to be described presently, the loop portion 16 of the spring rides lightly over the pins 17 as they move past the spring causing a slight retarding of the movement of the dial until it comes to a complete standstill.

The dial 12 is mounted so that it extends partially through an opening in the side wall 18, see Fig. 5, and the dial is spun by the player engaging the exposed edge of the dial with the thumb and giving the dial a quick movement which causes it to spin a number of revolutions against the resistance of the Wire spring as pins 17 ride over the loop portion 16 of the spring, eventually bringing the dial to a stop at a point that cannot be determined in advance and which indicates the score of the player in a manner that will be described presently.

The dial 12 is provided on its upper surface with both numeral and color indicia, enabling a player to use either numbers or colors in playing the game, and for 3 this purpose, the dial 12 is provided with the circularly arranged numerals preferably from 1 to 6, as indicated at 19, while at other points on the dial are circularly arrangedcolor areas representing the colors red' and green as indicated at 21, the color areas being located radially inwardly of the numbers on the dial.

Some of the color areas are provided with white dots to distinguish them from other areas as indicated at 22, and the game may be played by employing either the numeral indicia indicated at 19, or the color indicia indicated at 21 and 22,-means being provided for concealing the portion of the dial carrying the indicia not in use at a given time.

The cover is provided with an arcuate aperture 23, located above three small circular openings 24 marked L, C, and R, respe'ctively,'for left, right, and center, while on the cover are the numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, arranged concentrically immediately above the arcuate aperture 23, and corresponding to the numerals on the dial 12.

In order to select one or the other of the two sets of indicia on the dial, there is provided a shutter that is pivoted to the cover on its underside, and adapted to be moved by the player to a position for exposing either the arcuate aperture 23 for playing with numbers, or the circular openings 24 for playing with colors.

To accomplish this, the shutter has the form shown in Fig. 13, and appearing in dotted lines Figs. 1 and 2, being pivoted at 25 to the cover 3 on its underside and including an extension 26 carrying a pin movable through an arcuate slot 27 in the cover, while 28 is a finger piece at the upper end of the pin on the shutter enabling the player to shift the shutter to either position. The body portion of the shutter is segmental in shape and includes an opening or transparent portion 29, which permits viewing the color areas on the dial through openings 24 when the shutter is in the position shown in Fig. 2, and an arcuate aperture or transparent portion 31 which enables viewing numbers on the dial through the arcuate aperture 23 when the shutter is in the position shown in Fig. 1.

When the shutter is shifted to the Fig. 1 position, the scores result from the totals of the numbers appearing on the cover and on the dial immediately thereunder when the dial is spun, and when the shutter is in the Fig. 2 position, the score is determined by the particular colors on the dial that appear under the openings 24 which are designated L, R, and C.

The game may be played with five spins of the dial to each player, and in order to enable each player to maintain a record of the number of spins, there is provided a spin recorder arranged so as to be operated automatically as the player spins the dial. To accomplish this, a toothed wheel 32 is rotatively mounted on an arbor 33 secured to a supporting plate 34.

The toothed wheel 32 is provided with five teeth marked from 1 to 5 extending partially through an opening 35 in the side wall 18, and arranged in juxta-relation to the dial 12, so that when a player is ready to spin the dial, he places a thumb against a tooth of the spin recorder or toothed wheel 32, and in one continuous motion turns the spin recorder through one tooth and at the same time engages and spins the dial 12, and the number of the indicating tooth of the spin recorder at any given instant can be observed through the opening 36, in cover 3. The spin recorder at the completion of a game is normally in position to expose the number 5, see Fig. 1, through opening 36 in the cover, indicating that 5 spins have been completed and the game is finished. When starting the next game, the first spin of a player brings the numeral 1 into view and so on until 5 spins are completed, after which another player completes five spins and the player making the larger score is the winner.

When the game is to be played with the color indicia on the dial, a player first makes a choice of colors, since this has an efiect on his score as will be explained hereinafter.

To accomplish this, there is provided a color indicator shown at 37 and comprising a rotary wheel having a knurled edge extending through an opening 38 in the side wall of the housing to permit engagement and rotation by a player. The wheel is mounted on an arbor 39, secured between a base support and a supporting plate 4-1, and is colored on its upper surface to show segments of distinguishing colors, such as red and green, which can be observed through an opening 42 provided in the cover 3, and when a player starts to play, he may rotate the indicator 37 and select the color that is chosen by him for scoring.

In order to provide an indicator for each player to keep a record of his scores in each game, there are provided indicating wheels 43 and 44, suitably mounted between the base 1 and supporting plate 41 for rotation, and provided on their upper surface with numbers from 1 to 10. Each of the indicator wheels projects slightly through an opening in the adjacent side wall of the housing to enable a player to move the wheel to indicate his score. The numerals on the upper surface of the indicator wheels appear through the openings 45 and 46 in the cover of the housing.

The game may be played in various ways and when the number game is played, one example of a method of playing the game is as follows:

During play of the number game, it will be understood that the shutter is moved to close the openings 24 and to uncover the arcuate aperture 23, and when it is desired to play the color game, the shutter is moved to its extreme opposite position to close the arcuate aperture 23 and uncover the openings 24 which overlie the color areas of the dial or spinner.

The score is determined each time the dial is spun by the total of the numbers appearing on the dial and immediately thereabove in line on the cover, for instance, the total of any combination of the numerals from 1 to 6. Each player is permitted one free spin at the beginning of his game, and the total on his free spin constitutes a bonus number. Whenever the total on a subsequent spin is the same as his bonus number, he is entitled to an additional 3 points. If the total of his free spin is 5, he counts an additional 3 points each time the total 5 appears during subsequent spins. In addition, the player counts one point each time the total of 3, 7, or ll, appears on the dial and above on the cover, and two additional points are scored each time a pair appears on a spin. That is, when 2 appears on the dial immediately under 2 on the cover, or any other numeral appears on the dial immediately under the same numeral on the cover, the player counts two points. Whenever the total of the two numbers is 3, 7, or 11, and is also his bonus number, the player scores 1 point, plus 3 points additional for the bonus number.

The same rule applies if the bonus number appears as a result of any pair. For instance, if the bonus number is 8, and upon spinning the dial the number 4 appears on the dial immediately under the number 4 on the cover giving a total of 8, the player scores two points for the pair and 3 points additional for the bonus number.

The totals 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, and 6, do not score any points except where such a total is a bonus number or results from a pair.

When playing the color game, each player first selects a color by turning the indicator 37, to select either red or green which appears through the opening 41 and afiects his score. Upon spinning the dial, the player scores one point when any color appears in either the R or L opening 24 and two points when a color appears through the C opening 24. If the color which appears through one of the openings is the same as the color he has selected, he scores two points for either the R or L opening 24, and 4 points for the C opening 24. If the color appearing had a white dot in its center as at 22, the player scores one additional point, that is two points for either the L or R opening and 3 points for the C opening as a basic score. If the color appearing is his selected color, he scores 3 points for either the R or L opening and 5 points for the C opening.

The game may be played in a variety of ways, using either numbers or colors, and the scoring may be charged as desired. The invention is not limited to the details herein set forth and this application is intended to cover any modifications or departures coming within the purposes of the improvement and the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A game device comprising a housing including a base, side walls, and a cover portion having an elongated arcuate aperture and a series of numbers from 1 to 6 on its upper surface adjacent said arcuate aperture and coextensive therewith together with a series of circular openings below said arcuate aperture, a rotatable dial mounted in the housing and having a series of numbers from 1 to 6 arranged circumferentially on its upper surface adjacent to its outer edge, a series of colored areas on the upper surface of the dial spaced inwardly from said numbers and arranged circularly around the face of the dial, a pivotally mounted shutter including opaque portions and elongated arcuate apertures which selectively underlie said elongated arcuate aperture and said circular openings, said rotatable dial extending through an opening in one of said side walls beneath the cover portion and accessible at its edge for spinning, and a rotatable indicator operable at each spin of the dial comprising a rotatable wheel having toothed portions which successively project through said opening in the side wall of the housing and arranged adjacent to the dial whereby movement of a tooth of the indicator and movement of the dial is effected by a single continuous thumb motion, said indicator having consecutive numerals from 1 to 5 circumferentially arranged on its upper face and the cover having an opening through which said numerals are consecutively visible.

2. A game device comprising a housing including a base, side walls, and a cover portion having an elongated arcuate aperture and a series of numerical indications from 1 to 6 on its upper surface arranged arcuately adjacent to and coextensive with said arcuate aperture, a support mounted centrally on the base, a dial rotatably mounted on said support and projecting through an opening in a side wall of the housing, said dial having a series of numerical indications from 1 to 6 circumferentially arranged on its upper surface adjacent to its outer edge, each of said last mentioned indications being positionable in line with one of said first mentioned numerical indications, a series of pins secured and arranged circularly around the underside of the dial, and a wire spring having one end fixedly attached to said support, said spring extending outwardly therefrom and thence inwardly and upwardly toward said pins and terminating in a loop portion engageable between any two adjacent pins.

3. A game device comprising a housing including a base, cover portion, and side walls, a dial mounted for rotation in the housing and having a series of numerical indications from 1 to 6 circumferentially arranged on the upper surface of the dial adjacent to its outer edge, the cover portion having an elongated arcuate aperture and a series of numerical indications from 1 to 6 on the upper surface of the cover portion arranged arcuately above and coextensive with said elongated aperture, each of the numerical indications on the dial being positionable in alinement with one of said numerical indications on the cover portion and visible through said elongated aperture, the dial extending through an opening in one of said side walls beneath the cover portion and accessible at its edge for spinning, and a spin indicator comprising a rotatable wheel having toothed portions which successively project through said opening in the side Wall at a point adjacent to the dial whereby continuous motion of a thumb over one of said toothed portions and over the edge of the dial eil'ects movement of the spin indicator and dial successively, said indicator having consecutive numerals from 1 to 5 circumferentially arranged on its upper face and the cover having an opening through which said numerals are consecutively visible.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,119,452 Raster Dec. 1, 1914 1,430,062 DeVoe Sept. 26, 1922 1,520,316 Stolper Dec. 23, 1924 2,177,790 Scott Oct. 31, 1939 2,720,399 Pattyn Oct. 11, 1955 

